Stability and Real Atavism 167 



leaves afford an instance of correlated variabil- 

 ity since in the species the red color shows it- 

 self clearly mixed with the green, while in the 

 variety this tinge is wholly wanting. 



Occasionally this white-flowered currant re- 

 verts back to the original red type and the re- 

 version takes place in the bud. One or two 

 buds on a shrub bearing perhaps a thousand 

 bunches of white flowers produce twigs and 

 leaves in which the red pigment is noticeable 

 and the flowers of which become brightly col- 

 ored. If such a twig is left on the shrub, it may 

 grow further, ramify and evolve into a larger 

 group of branches. All of them keep true to 

 the old type. Once reverted, the branches re- 

 main forever atavistic. It is a very curious 

 sight, these small groups of red branches among 

 the many white ones. And for this reason at- 

 tention is often called to it, and more than once 

 I myself have had the opportunity of noting its 

 peculiarities. It seems quite certain that by 

 planting such shrubs in a garden, we may rely 

 upon seeing sooner or later some new buds re- 

 verting to the prototype. 



Very little attention seems hitherto to have 

 been given to this curious phenomenon, though 

 in many respects it deserves a closer investiga- 

 tion. The variety is said to have originated 

 from seed in Scotland, many years ago, and 



